Study on Mechanical Properties and Microscopic Mechanism of PVA-Modified Recycled Brick Aggregate Concrete

Abstract

This paper addresses a range of environmental issues stemming from the improper disposal of construction waste and its low recycling rate by examining the effects and mechanisms of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution in modifying recycled aggregates. Basic physical properties, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to study these effects and mechanisms. Tests on basic mechanical properties were performed to assess the impact of aggregate modification and the brick-concrete ratio on recycled brick-aggregate concrete’s mechanical characteristics. Nuclear magnetic resonance and microhardness tests were performed to analyze the influence exerted by PVA modification on the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), microstructure, and pore structure, thus exploring the connection between modified recycled-brick-aggregate concrete’s microstructure and its icromechanical properties. The findings show that the water absorption and crushing index of recycled aggregates (RA) immersed in a 10% PVA solution for 24 h decrease significantly, while the apparent density increases most notably. This phenomenon can be ascribed to the development of a PVA coating on the exterior of the reused aggregates. The optimal mechanical properties for recycled brick aggregate concrete (RAC) occur when the replacement rate is 30% and the brick-concrete ratio is 1:1. The compressive strength is 44.2 MPa, the bending strength is 15.6 MPa, and the splitting tensile strength is 3.85 MPa. Additionally, the modification with PVA results in a higher percentage of transition pores, while simultaneously reducing the percentage of macropores. There is an uptick in the frequency of harmless and less harmful pores, and a declining proportion of harmful and more harmful pores. The ITZ’s structural morphology in the RAC is effectively improved by the coating structure formed through the bonding of the polymer with cement hydration products, and PVA modification reduces the thickness of this zone.